[AceWing]

Ladder Changes: You can no longer be demoted during a season!
By GwiyoMI

"To keep play at each skill level on the ladder competitive, we no longer demote players in the middle of a season. You can only be placed into a lower league when you play your initial placement match(es) in a new season, or by leaving the league."

With the global launch of the 2013 World Championship Series and a new season on the StarCraft II ladder approaching, we’ve seen a number of questions about the multiplayer competitive framework that we’d like to answer. What follows are common inquiries that we’ve seen on our forums, Reddit, Team Liquid, and elsewhere.

Question: Why was I initially placed lower on the ladder than my skill/history/placement match results might predict?

Answer: Initial placement each season is conservative. With the launch of Heart of the Swarm, every player was added to an entirely new matchmaking queue and given a new hidden rating based on their initial results. We expected (and saw that) many players got placed into a lower league than they might ultimately reach, and there were many promotions as a result. In subsequent seasons, you won’t be placed as conservatively. As always, as long as you continue to win against opponents on the ladder, you will be promoted.

Question: I’ve been losing quite a bit on the ladder lately. Why am I not being demoted?

Answer: To keep play at each skill level on the ladder competitive, we no longer demote players in the middle of a season. You can only be placed into a lower league when you play your initial placement match(es) in a new season, or by leaving the league.

Question: When I choose to play “unranked”, do I only face other unranked players?

Answer: No. At this time, players who are playing with and without ladder points on the line are in the same pool. In order to expand the interests of players who choose to play unranked, the game maintains a separate hidden skill rating for ranked and unranked play.

At the highest levels of skill, ranked players are only matched up against other ranked players, and unranked players are only matched up against other unranked players.

Question: What happens if I choose the “Leave League” option?

Answer: Simply put, it removes you from the ladder. You will no longer belong to any league, as though you never played your placement matches, and your bonus pool will be reset.

This does not affect your hidden skill rating. You can play a placement match and be inserted back into the ladder at any time.

Question: How do the Wings of Liberty and Heart of the Swarm ladders differ?

Answer: The two different expansion levels each have their own ladders, and you must switch down to Wings of Liberty (or upgrade to Heart of the Swarm) in order to queue for that ladder. In terms of placement, ranking, promotion, matchmaking, and functionality, the two ladders work exactly the same.

If you play on both ladders, you have two hidden skill ratings – one for each ladder.

Question: How long is a ladder season?

Answer: The 2013 ladder seasons have been aligned with the World Championship Series. The start dates for each season are:

2013 Season 3 – June 10
2013 Season 4 – August 26
2013 Season 5 – November 11

Currently, each season is 11 weeks long.

This compilation of frequently asked questions (and answers) will be updated as necessary, so please feel free to continue the discussion in the comments below.

Source: http://www.blizzposts.com/blogentry/...and-season-faq

[NimbLe]

mixed feelings on this but i feel its ok.. it may stop the people who join and instantly leave but i reckon the "inactive rule" should also b brought in as it would make ladder placing better..

and maybe get me to diamond faster. muahahah

[TABjornbrandr]

While I think it kind of defeats the purpose of a ranking system (I'd rather know where I am and feel as though I deserve my league), oh well. It's not a giant deal.
It's a bit silly, but as long as I know why I won/lost and I get better over time; meh.

[TtSYF.tRoy]

The question is, how will grandmaster work?

Quick Comments

	sR_Osiris:	it would stay the same if not that is kinda silly
	TADivinity:	GM only kicked you out if bonus pool gets too high. Nothing has changed here

[SFTAElessar]

really skeptical about this move by Blizzard...
really interested with how GM will work coz if u cant demoted then i will be very mad!

[ThatGuyDoMo]

GM demotion was always based off of inactivity / bonus pool wasn't it?

This is regarding demotion by MMR afaik.

Quick Comments

mGGDaedalus:

^^ this

[Seffy]

GM will still have to work the same way, it is the top 200 spots afterall for the said server and that's a REALLY competitive spot.

However for Masters and below the idea of not getting demoted is pretty okay. Your MMR will still drop I'm fairly sure so you can still encounter people on your personal level. Does defeat ranking a bit, but it doesn't really hurt too much.

[VB_bayak]

I think the main point of this is for people to not have as much 'ladder anxiety'. Whilst your mmr will change and u might get demoted in new season it helps people play more seeing as though at the moment all you can do is play and not get demoted.

I think its a really good call. Afaik a lot of demotions will occur at the start of new seasons to keep the 8,20, 32, 20, 18, 2 percent leagues correct it will encourage play to those who don't ladder in fear of losing. But a new season demotion won't be as 'painful' as a mid season demotion imo.

[mGGDaedalus]

Tbh I think it's to put more emphasis on fighting for rank in your division. Generally if you're in the bottom 50 of your division and you're active you're probably not far off a demotion. This way I guess the divisions will stay constant from 1 down to 100.

[Xpndable]

Could this deter smurfs? This would make it harder to get a tanked MMR, because you'd have to lose a lot and then leave league to hope you place in the league below, instead of just knowing because of the mid-season demotion system. It might not, but it could have *some* impact.

[Reere]

I'm happy with this.

Less ladder anxiety, a tad more 'casual' friendly. No complaints~

[chlippry]

yeah im happy with this change! now the challenge is to stay in platinum league. hopefully this will take some of the anxiety out of matches !

[mGGLearning]

This is good for us baddies. =P It means I won't have to have demotion anxiety.